Clothespin



' F. OMANQ CLOTHESPIN Sept. 17,194o.

Filed Sept. 2, 1939 mua,

Patentefl Sept. 17, 1940 UNITED' .STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOTHESIIN Frank Romano, Weathefly. Pa. Application September 2,1939, Serial No. 293,161

' 6 Claims. (Cl..24138) My invention relates to a new and useful clothespin, the same being a continuation in part of application filed May 12, 1937, Ser. No.,142,116, and has for one of its objects to provide an 5 exceedingly simple and-efiective device of this kind which is inexpensive to manufacture, strong and durable, and efiicient in operation.

Another object of this invention is to construct a clothespin which will firmly grip articles on a line and will not become loosened by the articles blowing about in the wirid.

A -further object of the invention is to provide a clothespin consisting of a wooden bifurcated laody with a clamping means, preferably of Wire, munted thereon to grip an article on the line and firmly hold such article in place.

' A still further object of this invention is to make such a clothespin in such form that it may be slipped onto the line and pulled thereirom in the manner of an ordinar clothespin without a clamping means. n v

With the above and other objects in view, this invention consists of the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail,referring by numerals, t0 00 the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof,

in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of clothespin constructecl in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof in its normal 35 condition.

Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating one position of the clothespin When in use.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

40 Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is 9. section on the line 17 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a slight modification.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a bottom end view of Fig. 8.

45 In carrying out my invention as embodied in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, l0 represents the body of the clothespin preferably produced from wood with a head 1 l at one end. The other end of said body is bifurcated to provide legs l2 and in the outer 50 broad face of one of these legs adjacent its free end is formed a transverse slot [3 at least 3. portion of which extends generally lengthwise of the clothespin leg while in the body above the other leg is formed a similar transverse slot M 55 at least a portion of which extends generally opposite one another.

lengthwise of said body. Said slots are diagonally A clamping means l5, preferably produced from spring wire, is fashioned to produce cross bars 16 which are inserted in the slots I3 and M and between both ends of the cross bars extend the zig-zag or Z-shaped side arms l'l which are. situated at the side of the legs I2 and across the opening between said legs. One of the bends l8 of each of the side arms- H functions as a clip 0 to engage and pass the clothesline M and engage an article 29 on the lin'e-tohold both the article and clothespin onsaid line. When the clothespin vis fully engaged with the line or an article thereon, said line or the part of the article folded la over said line is positioned between the crook 2! and the leg l 2 opposite said crook.

In practice, the clothespin is placed on the clothesline by registering the opening between the legs l2 With said line and then *pushing the 20 clothespin forward With sufi1cient force to cause the side arms to yield as the clips l9 contact the line or cause the side arms to yield as the clips l9 contact the line or the foldecl portion of an article on the line. During this time the cross bars, or one of. them, may slide in their respective slots As the clips pass the line they spring back -beneath said line and hold the line securely within the space between the crook 2! and the leg l'2 opposite said-crook. Because of the resiliency of the side arms of the clamping means, the clothespin firmly retains an article on the line but with the application of a small amount of direct force, the clothespin may be readily applied to or removed from the line.

.In that .form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, 10 the reference numeral 22 denotes the bodyof the clothespin, one end of which has ahead 23 thereon while the other end. is bifurcated to form legs 24. In the body is produced a. tran'sverse hole 25 or other equivalent opening which vvill hold aportion of the clamping means 26.

Said clamping means 26 is produced from spring wire and fashioned to provide cross bars 21 and means cannot be accidentally disengaged under 5 ordinary circumstatnces but permits the cross bar 21 to slide or move longitudinally of the clothespin leg. From the jaws 29, the wire is bent to provide the zig-zag or-Z-shaped side arms 30 whioh are situated at the sides of the legs and across the opening between said legs.

One of the bends 31 of each side arm is curved and functions as a clip to engage and ride over the clothesline and any article thereon when the clothespin is applied or removed and to engage a portion of the article to hold both said article and the clothespin while in use on the line. When the clothes pin is fuflly engaged With the line and/or an article thereon said lime, or the part of the article folded thereover, is positioned between the other bend or crook 32 ;of each arm and the leg 24 opposite said crook. The upper ends of the side arms 30 of the clamping means are bent inward towards each other and are forced into the hole 25 so as to lie side by side and form the cross bar 28.

It is to be particularly noted that in both constructions the lower end of each clamping' means is held captive on a leg of the clothespin but has suflcient freedom to move longitudinally of the leg. The upper end of said clamping means is also held captive and in this case it can be restricted as in Fig. 1 or fixed as in Fig. 8.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exactdetails of construction herein shown and described as these may be varied within the scope of the appended claims with0ut departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I daim as new and useful is:

1. A clothespin comprising a body, a pair of spaced parallel legs projecting from said body, one of said legs having a transverse slot in its outer broad face adjacent the free end of the leg and said body having a transverse slot above the legs in the face opposite the slotted leg, and a clamping member fashioned from spring wire and including cross bars in the slots and Z-shaped side arms between the ends of the cross bars and situated at the sides of the legs diagonally across the space between said legs.

2. In a device of the kind described, a clothespin member consisting of a body and a pair of spaced parallel legs projecting from said body, each of said legs having an inner and outer face and side edges, one of said legs having a transverse slot in its outer face adjacent the free end of the leg and said body having a cross slot above the legs in the side opposite the slotted leg, and a clamping member fashicned from spring wire and consisting of cross bars, said cross bars being mounted in the slots and said side arms being positioned at the side edges of the legs diagonally across the space between said legs.

3. In a device of the kind described, a clothespin member consisting of a body and a pair of spaced legs, aresilient clamping member having a pair of Z-shaped side arms, said clamping member having a portion attached to one of the legs adjacent its free end and another portion attached to the body above the other leg whereby 7 said z-shaped side arms are positioned diagonally across the side edges of both of the legs and the space between them.

4. 'A- clamping member for a one piece clothespin which has a body and a pair of spaced legs, said clamping member comprising two cross bars and a pair of Z'shaped arms connected With the bars, one of said bars being secured to one of the legs adjacent its free end and the other bar secured to the body above the legs in opposition to the leg to which the first mentioned bar is secured With the Z-shaped arms extendng diagonally crosswise of the space between the legs.

5. In a device of the kind described, a blfurcatedmemher having two outer faces and -two side edges, and resilient Zshaped clamping clements positioned diagonally across the side edges of said member and bifurcation thereof and snugly embracing the side edges of said member.

6. In a device of the kind described, a clothespin member consisting of a body and a pair of spaced legs, a resilient clamping member having a pair of Z-shaped side arms, one of the bends of each arm being curved outwardly, said clamping member including leg gripping jaws to hold the lower portion of said member captive on a leg .of the clothespin and also provided with 

